revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Supermofo wrote: Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:06 pm HRC colours for the Homda

Reminded me of Freddie Spencer's

That's how I feel about the exhaust, I don't like how it looks, but I've not seen anything I prefer, and the standard exhaust works.

If I was going to replace the exhaust I'd be tempted to get a complete system, as I don't like how the collector box looks either.

How are MOTs on bikes of this vintage with cats etc? I've never had to get one tested.

If you lose the whole system presumably it'll make a CEL come on? Do you need a friendly tester in this scenario and how common are they? As above, I've never had to worry about it. With a modern car for example I know it's basically not possible to pass without the cat and it's gubbins in place and working, unless you have a dodgy garage.

I too hated the hideous exhaust but seeing more pictures of it, its grown on me and i realise its the absolute side on view where its at its worse! I do like to hear an exhaust note though, but if its got a little bark to it, then i think i'd keep it too?

Glad you're getting on with it as a few posts back it was starting to sound like you was unsure!

My Dad has pretty much exactly the same bike, totally stock. Same colour and everything, just has a top box.

It sounds pretty decent to me! Obviously on the quieter side but still enough that he woke me up leaving at 06:30 when I was staying at their place

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 8:47 am How are MOTs on bikes of this vintage with cats etc? I've never had to get one tested.

If you lose the whole system presumably it'll make a CEL come on? Do you need a friendly tester in this scenario and how common are they? As above, I've never had to worry about it. With a modern car for example I know it's basically not possible to pass without the cat and it's gubbins in place and working, unless you have a dodgy garage.

A lot of bikes you'd never know from visual inspection that the cat has been removed.
I know on mine (2018 vintage) if I did take them out it wouldn't throw a CEL.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 8:47 am How are MOTs on bikes of this vintage with cats etc? I've never had to get one tested.

If you lose the whole system presumably it'll make a CEL come on? Do you need a friendly tester in this scenario and how common are they? As above, I've never had to worry about it. With a modern car for example I know it's basically not possible to pass without the cat and it's gubbins in place and working, unless you have a dodgy garage.

With cars isn't that because emissions is part of the MOT? It isn't on bikes IIRC. So I assume you get something to sort the light out and job done.

Taipan wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 8:59 am I too hated the hideous exhaust but seeing more pictures of it, its grown on me and i realise its the absolute side on view where its at its worse! I do like to hear an exhaust note though, but if its got a little bark to it, then i think i'd keep it too?

Glad you're getting on with it as a few posts back it was starting to sound like you was unsure!

It took me a little while to find an engine setting I liked, it's fun on psycho mode, but it's a lot smoother and easier to ride on the middle power setting, also since I put the suspension settings to standard it's better handling, but it's always handled better than the Suzuki, the front end really is incredibly good on the Honda.

It takes me a little while to like a bike, I'm not someone who can jump on a bike and love it, but I can jump on a bike and hate it.

Supermofo wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 9:51 am

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 8:47 am How are MOTs on bikes of this vintage with cats etc? I've never had to get one tested.

If you lose the whole system presumably it'll make a CEL come on? Do you need a friendly tester in this scenario and how common are they? As above, I've never had to worry about it. With a modern car for example I know it's basically not possible to pass without the cat and it's gubbins in place and working, unless you have a dodgy garage.

With cars isn't that because emissions is part of the MOT? It isn't on bikes IIRC. So I assume you get something to sort the light out and job done.

Yeah it's emissions checked on a car. That's why I said "of this vintage", wasn't sure if they check bikes too now.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 10:03 am

Supermofo wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 9:51 am

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 8:47 am How are MOTs on bikes of this vintage with cats etc? I've never had to get one tested.

If you lose the whole system presumably it'll make a CEL come on? Do you need a friendly tester in this scenario and how common are they? As above, I've never had to worry about it. With a modern car for example I know it's basically not possible to pass without the cat and it's gubbins in place and working, unless you have a dodgy garage.

With cars isn't that because emissions is part of the MOT? It isn't on bikes IIRC. So I assume you get something to sort the light out and job done.

Yeah it's emissions checked on a car. That's why I said "of this vintage", wasn't sure if they check bikes too now.

Dunno, but don't think so. My 690 Duke wasn't and that was a 2015 bike. My Suzuki is a 2020 so due an MOT from Dec this year so I guess I'll find out but I don't think it is.

I don't think emissions are checked on motorcycles

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspect ... otorcycles

They aren't, or at least I've never had any of mine checked.
That don't make it potentially illegal though https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ns#the-law

MrLongbeard wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 10:46 am They aren't, or at least I've never had any of mine checked.
That don't make it potentially illegal though https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ns#the-law

I don't think there's any "potentially" about it, using a vehicle on the road that has been modified and no longer meets it's emission regulations is illegal, the only grey area would be if your vehicle looked standard and didn't meet emission regs.

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 1:00 pm

MrLongbeard wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 10:46 am They aren't, or at least I've never had any of mine checked.
That don't make it potentially illegal though https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ns#the-law

I don't think there's any "potentially" about it, using a vehicle on the road that has been modified and no longer meets it's emission regulations is illegal, the only grey area would be if your vehicle looked standard and didn't meet emission regs.

And therein lies the rub, how much modification is required before it fails to meet its manufactured emission requirements, back box only, 1 or both cats, full system, swap out wide band sensors for OEM narrowband sensors, a tune, replace OEM cats for sports cats?

Ah hell, s'long as it looks OEM, and the MOT isn't changed to check the emissions who'd know...., I only left my cats intact because I'm a nice neighbour who leaves for work at 6 in the AM, I could whip them out and it'd look OEM, still be listed as ULEZ complaint and waft around london choking the inhabitants and no one would know.

I can't say I'm that bothered about the legality of it, I've got a 1982 Z1000J that doesn't have a single unmodified Z1000J part (it's built from a frame and the frame is modified)

Taipan wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2023 5:34 pm That exhaust though!

Usually stock exhausts don't bother me... but that looks like someone welded a dustbin on the end for a laugh...

602 miles now and the chain needs adjusting, it's hitting the swing arm when pulling away, mostly because the swing arm is huge, at least I can't mess up wheel alignment on this bike.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 8:47 amWith a modern car for example I know it's basically not possible to pass without the cat and it's gubbins in place and working, unless you have a dodgy garage.

That's becoming potentially more difficult to hide.

As MoT details are electronic, it's easy to identify patterns in failures, such as particular vehicle-specific issues.

And, therefore, highlight test stations which seem to buck the trend.

Comedy exhaust time
GSX-S 750 link pipe and cheapy eBay "silencer"

It wasn't that loud, it's got a catalytic converter so that probably absorbs quite a bit of noise, saying which it was louder with no can at all.